Ore-pulp distributer.



Patentewnarpls, |902,

F. W. SHERMAN. ORE PULP DISTRIBUTEB.`

(Application filed Har. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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vrins cm mom-uma.. wAsmNa-rou o c UNITED?A STATES FREDERIC W. SHERMAN, OF PARK CITY, UTAH, ASSIGN OR TO THE GATES` PATENT FFICE.

IRON WORKS', on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

ORE-YPULP DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No.'695,654, dated March 18, 1902. o

Application iiled March 3, 1900. Serial No. 7,182. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern: A- l Be it known that LFnnnnRIc W. SHERMAN,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Park City, in the county of Summit and State of`v Utah, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Ore-Pulp Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of distributers and classifiers which are used in combination with`ore stamps or Crushers in which the material is crushed bythe wet process into what is known as a pulp for the pupose of classifying and distributing the pu p. v

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient pulp classifier and distributer.

Other objects of the invention will appear from an inspection of the drawings and the following description and claims.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter Vdescribed and claimed.

In 4the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my improvements, taken at or about the longitudinal center of the apparatus; Fig.- `2, an end elevation of the same looking at itf4 from the right of Fig. l; Fig.l 3, an enlarged view, partly in section, showing one of the multiple discharge-valves and Fig. 4,a transverse sectional elevation taken on line 4 of Fig. 3.

It is well known to those skilled in the art of milling precious ores, dac.,- that after the ore has been crushed through stamp-mills and other machines using the wet process the pulp which issues from such machines is in most cases passed on to a series of concentrators. In almost every instance itis desirable that this pulp, which is the Water and comminuted sand and ore mixed together,

p should be classified, so that the dierent classes or sizes of pulp may be separated and distributed to different concentrators intended for that class.

This invention therefore has for its principal object the providing of a machine which will economically classify and distribute the nlp.

In illustrating and describing my mechan- 1 ism I have only thought it necessary to describe the classifier and distributer, as the other mechanism, such as the stamp-'mills and concentrators, is well known to those skilled in the art and ncedsnoillustration or description here.

accordance with my improvements I use a receptacle A of the desired size and shape, in which there are two compartments known as the pressure-chamber A anc settling at the lower part thereof by means of a narrow channel ot. The upper part of the pressure-chamber A is provided with a supplyopening a', underneathwhich is arranged an inclined `screen B of suitable size and mesh to prevent solid matter from entering the box and choking the small connecting-passage. The pulp is fed into the pressure-chamber at which removes the solid matter and prevents it from entering the box, so that the fine pulp enters the pressure-chamber and from thence passes into the sizing-chamber. In order to prevent or break up the eddy so as to allow the material to settle in the sizing-chamber and be properly classified, an inclined baffleboard C is provided, which prevents direct current and allows the pulp to easily enter the 4sizing-chamber, from 4which it is withdrawn. Y. It will berunderstood that owing to the dif-l vrial forming the pulp it` will settle in layers, and in order to properlyclassify this I provide outlets arranged in different horizontal planes and which are closed by means of the multiple lvalves D, D', and D2. As soon as the pulp is sized all of these outlet-valves mayberopened and as aconsequence the pulp be classified according to its gravity, weight, or mixture of the particular layer and led as desired to different concentratorsby means of suitable lannders.

- When pulp is supplied in large quantities, so that oneconcent'rator cannot take care of one entire classified product, it is desirable to distribute the same to several concentrators, and in order toaccomplish this result I make the discharge valves with multiple openin gs,preferring four openings CZ, as shown In making a classifier and distributer in the openingen', so as to first contact the screen,

ferent sizes and specific gravity of the mate-' or sizing chamber A2, connected together' IOO . in the drawings, which are opened and closed simultaneously by means of the plugs df,- each of which is provided with indicating-handles (Z2 and springs di, which act to keep the plugs firmly on their seats. It will thus be seen that when the valve is open a uniform distribution through several pipes takes place, and each concentrator is fed with a uniform quantity of classified pulp.

From the foregoing it will be seen that two or more classified products may be discharged at the same time, and such classified products may be divided and distributed to several ditferent concentrators in uniform quantities.

At times the supply of pulp to the classifier may be more than the several discharge valves and pipes can take care of, so that there is an overliow of very iine pulp or slime. In order to take care of this, I make the receptacle of such size and shape that the partition A3, which forms one of the sizing-chambers, is lower than the walls of the receptacle, so as to provide a third chamber A4, into which the overiiow may pass and from which it may be withdrawn through the discharge-pipe E and led to any desired coucentrator.

In operation the water and sand, being the entire issue of a stamp-battery or other wet crushing-mill for reducing ore, is led by a suitable launder to the top of the main or pressure chamber and passing down the same and through the passage a enters the sizing-chamber A2, from which it may be drawn out through the lowest row of openings by means of the valve D. If the areas of the lowest row of `openings are sufficient to take care of the quantity coming in, there will be no rise of water in the pressure-column or main chamber; but when the discharge-valves are closed or partly closed the water will rise in both the pressure and sizing chambers proportionately. By gradually closing the valves which govern the lower set of discharge-openings the water may be made to rise and a portion of it caused to overliow and pass out through a discharge-pipe E, carrying with it a small portion of the lighter slimes which are held in suspension. As many rows of openings with controlling-valves may be provided as there are numbers of diEerent classes or degrees of products desired and the valve so adjusted as to give the quantity and quality for the product desired. Ordinarily the valve should be kept closed suiiiciently to keep the pulp backed up to fill the pressure and settling chambers nearly to the point of overflowing and holding it there, thus providing the necessary pressure to obtain the best results. Vhere the quantity of water entering with the sands is in excess of the amount desired upon the concentrating machines, it may be separated by closing discharge-openings to force the amount which is in excess to overflow and pass out through the dischargeopening E without in any way interfering with the uniformity of the product coming out through the distributing-pipes. In passing through the connecting-passage ct under the pressure of a column of water twelve inches or more the sands are equally distributed throughout the width of the stream which is carrying them, both as to gravity and volume, and are there fore equally distributed throughout the less-agitated volumeV of water in the sizing-chamber and are free to fall to the bottom thereof. As the speed of thecurrent is lessened the closer or heavier particles will pass down the faster through the first discharge-valves, the next sized through the second set, and so on.

The principal advantages due to the use of a classifier and distributerconstructed in accordance with my improvements are, first, that it separates the sands economically and veiiciently into the different classes; second,

that it separates the excess of water,and,third that it divides each class of pulp into several parts uniformly as to volume of water and contained sands and concentrates.

I claiml. In an apparatus of the class described, a receptacle provided with a pressure-chamber and a sizing-chamber connected together by means of a narrow channel at the lower portion thereof, and discharge-valve mechanism in the sizing-chamber to draw off the classified product, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a receptacle provided with a pressure-chamber anda sizing-chamber connected together by means of a narrow passage at the lower portion thereof,an overiiow-chamber arranged to take the overflow from the sizing-chamber and provided with a discharge-opening at or near the lowerporton thereof, and dischargevalve mechanism in the sizing-chamber arranged to draw off the classified product, substantially as described. y

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a receptacle provided with a pressure-chamber having a supply-opening and a sizingchamber connected together by means of a narrow passage at the lower part thereof, a

` screen in the pressure-chamber arranged underneath the supply-opening, a baffle-board in the sizing-chamber to break up the current therein, and valve mechanism in the sizingchamber to draw od the classified product, substantially as described.

Il. In an apparatus of the class described, a receptacle provided with a pressure-chamber having a supply-opening and a sizingchamber connected with it at the lower portion thereof, an overflow-chamber arranged to take care of the overliow from the sizingchamber and provided with a discharge-pipe at or near the lower part thereof, a screen in the pressure-chamber arranged underneath the supply-opening, a baffle-board in the sizing-chamber arranged adjacent to the connecting-channel to break up the current or aid therein, and discharge-valve mechanism connected with the sizing-chamber to draw off the classiiied product, substantially as described.

IOO

ICS

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5. In an apparatus of. the `class described, a receptacle provided with a .pressure-chamber connected therewith at or near the lower portion of the same, and an overfiow-cham` ber arranged .to take care of 4the overiowA from the sizing-chamber and providedwith a discharge-passage at or near its lower-portion, a screen in the pressure-chamber ar-l ranged adjacent to and underneath the supply-opening, an inclined baffle-board in the sizing-chamber arranged adjacent to the con-'l neoting-passagetobreak up the eddyor eur-`v l rent-of pu1p,.and-several multipledisohargevalves eonneotedwith the sizing-oll1amber and arranged in different horizontal pianesto'take care of.; theolassied product andLjdist-ribute the same uniformly through ltheir several dis.-`

LCharge-openings, substantially ae described.;

' FREDERIC W.SHRRivIAN- 

